Tioweró:ton Update

07/08/2009

The Lands Unit of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke would like to update the community on the current situation in Tioweró:ton where torrential rains damaged roads and a bridge throughout the Territory last week.

A Capital Unit crew is on-site today to begin repair work on the deck of the first bridge that was washed away. The repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting.

As a result of the high water levels throughout the Territory, several outhouses were covered in water and may have threatened the integrity of lakes and wells. Community Health Representative Mark Horne is also on the territory today to undertake water sampling in the locations that were flooded. These samples will be brought back to Kahnawà:ke for contamination testing; results will be announced Friday.

Community members in the territory are advised not to consume well or creek water until the results prove it is safe.

Additionally, the steel walking bridge located by the falls is still intact. The bridge was originally thought to have washed away, but was visually undetectable due to the depth of the water.

For more information, please contact the Interim Tioweró:ton Coordinator at 450-638-8244 or a Community Health Representative at 450-635-9945.